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UV and IR radiation are both electromagnetic radiations. They differ in wavelength (the distance traveled by the wave in the time of one period, which is related to frequency). UV has a shorter wavelength than IR, and is thus more energetic (because shorter wavelength also means higher frequency, and the energy of a single photon is proportional to its frequency.) The energy in each photon in the UV frequency range is enough to wreak havoc with the structures of many moelcules, and thus cause a wide range of damage. This can be damage to tissue (as in a sunburn) or to DNA molecules (causing risk of skin cancer) or something relatively harmless, like the activation of a mechanism in the skin that increases pigmentation (i.e., a suntan.) This is also why the sun has a bleaching effect on the colors of many objects (the UV alters or destroys the molecules that provide the color) and causes others to become weak or brittle.

IR photons, on the other hand, have only enough energy to shake molecules around a little, which makes material hot but doesn't do any real damage (unless there's enough to make it reallyhot.) That's why IR is sometimes erroneously referred to as "heat rays."

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What has greater energy between ultraviolet and infrared?

Ultraviolet radiation has greater energy than infrared radiation. Ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies, while infrared radiation has longer wavelengths and lower frequencies.


What is stronger ultraviolet or infrared?

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is stronger than infrared radiation. UV radiation has a shorter wavelength and higher energy than infrared radiation, making it more harmful to living organisms. Infrared radiation is felt as heat and is generally less damaging to biological tissues.


What property spells difference between infra red and ultra violet radiation?

One key difference between infrared and ultraviolet radiation is their wavelengths. Infrared radiation has longer wavelengths than visible light, while ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths. Additionally, ultraviolet radiation is more energetic than infrared radiation.


What type of electromagnetic wave has highest energy a ultraviolet wave or an infrared wave?

Infrared radiation has a lower frequency than optical light as it is below the red end of the spectrum. "Infra" means below, making "infrared" meaning "below red. On the other hand, ultraviolet radiation has a higher frequency than optical light as it is above the violet end of the spectrum. "Ultra" means "above or greater", making ultraviolet meaning "above violet". The answer to your question would be: ultraviolet radiation has more electromagnetic energy than infrared radiation.


Can ultraviolet radiation be used in heat lamps?

No, ultraviolet radiation cannot be used directly in heat lamps because ultraviolet light does not generate heat. Heat lamps typically produce infrared radiation, which is what provides the warmth. Ultraviolet radiation is more commonly used for applications like sterilization or tanning.

Related Questions

What has greater energy between ultraviolet and infrared?

Ultraviolet radiation has greater energy than infrared radiation. Ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies, while infrared radiation has longer wavelengths and lower frequencies.


What is stronger ultraviolet or infrared?

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is stronger than infrared radiation. UV radiation has a shorter wavelength and higher energy than infrared radiation, making it more harmful to living organisms. Infrared radiation is felt as heat and is generally less damaging to biological tissues.


What property spells difference between infra red and ultra violet radiation?

One key difference between infrared and ultraviolet radiation is their wavelengths. Infrared radiation has longer wavelengths than visible light, while ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths. Additionally, ultraviolet radiation is more energetic than infrared radiation.


Which has more energyinfrared or ultraviolet radiation?

Ultraviolet with its higher frequency and shorter wavelength carries more energy then infrared.


What type of electromagnetic wave has highest energy a ultraviolet wave or an infrared wave?

Infrared radiation has a lower frequency than optical light as it is below the red end of the spectrum. "Infra" means below, making "infrared" meaning "below red. On the other hand, ultraviolet radiation has a higher frequency than optical light as it is above the violet end of the spectrum. "Ultra" means "above or greater", making ultraviolet meaning "above violet". The answer to your question would be: ultraviolet radiation has more electromagnetic energy than infrared radiation.


Is infrared radiation more energetic than visible radiation?

No. Infrared (IR) light is longer wavelength (lower frequency) light and is of lower electromagnetic energy than shorter wavelength (higher frequency) ultraviolet (UV) light. Note that our skin "senses" infrared light (which we normally think of as heat) in a different way than it does ultraviolet light. This may account for the difference in the way it "feels" when we're exposed to light of the two energies. To be clear, ultraviolet light has higher energy photon for photon than infrared light. If both are absorbed by the skin, the reaction of the skin will be slightly different, but the energy imparted to the skin will be greater with the UV light that the IR light.


Does the earth or the sun emit more infrared radiation?

The Earth emits more infrared radiation than the Sun. The Sun emits mostly visible light and ultraviolet radiation, while the Earth's surface absorbs this energy and reradiates it as infrared radiation due to its lower temperature.


Can ultraviolet radiation be used in heat lamps?

No, ultraviolet radiation cannot be used directly in heat lamps because ultraviolet light does not generate heat. Heat lamps typically produce infrared radiation, which is what provides the warmth. Ultraviolet radiation is more commonly used for applications like sterilization or tanning.


Are X-rays less dangerous to health than ultraviolet radiation?

No, they are not. X-rays have a higher energy than UV radiation, and they have the potential to do more damage to tissue.


Which has the greatest frequency out of radio wave microwave infrared wave visible light ultraviolet light x ray gamma ray?

X-rays have the highest frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum.


Is it true that ultraviolet light carries more energy than infrad radiation?

im 75% positive that it does penetrate deeper than infrared radiation.


What is the Differential of ultraviolet ray from infrared ray?

Ultraviolet rays have more energy and a higher frequency, while an Infrared ray is essentially heat, which has less radiation, and a longer wavelength. Also, they are located lower of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.